Spain – Sport Witness http://sportwitness.co.uk Sun, 19 Nov 2023 12:06:55 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.1.15 West Ham ready to make offer for January signing – Moyes gives approval to deal http://sportwitness.co.uk/west-ham-ready-make-offer-signing-january-club-willing-accept-sale-e20m/ http://sportwitness.co.uk/west-ham-ready-make-offer-signing-january-club-willing-accept-sale-e20m/#respond Sun, 19 Nov 2023 11:16:20 +0000 http://sportwitness.co.uk/?p=448365 Celta’s Óscar Mingueza has ended up on West Ham United’s transfer agenda. That’s according to Fichajes.net, who state the Hammers have been keeping an eye on La Liga and the 24-year-old is the player they ‘like the most’. Operating mainly as a right-back and at times as a wing-back, he has managed a goal and two

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Celta’s Óscar Mingueza has ended up on West Ham United’s transfer agenda.

That’s according to Fichajes.net, who state the Hammers have been keeping an eye on La Liga and the 24-year-old is the player they ‘like the most’.

Operating mainly as a right-back and at times as a wing-back, he has managed a goal and two assists from 14 games this season.

The defender has been a key player for the Spanish club and has taken another step in his career under Rafael Benítez’s guidance this season. This has drawn the attention of West Ham.

It’s said the Europa Conference League winners could ‘launch an offer’ in January, after receiving approval from David Moyes to go ahead with the operation.

The report adds West Ham are trying to close the deal for around €20m, and if they were to make this offer, Fichajes.net say Celta ‘would accept without consideration’. Mingueza, for his part, could be open to making a switch to England.

West Ham have Vladimír Coufal and Ben Johnson as the two right-backs in their squad and the duo have deals expiring in 2024, with the former having an option for another year. Taking this account, a move for Mingueza in the upcoming windows would make sense.

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City Football Group official on potential Manchester City managerial handover – Depends on Guardiola decision http://sportwitness.co.uk/city-football-group-official-potential-manchester-city-managerial-handover-depends-guardiola-decision/ http://sportwitness.co.uk/city-football-group-official-potential-manchester-city-managerial-handover-depends-guardiola-decision/#respond Sat, 18 Nov 2023 11:16:53 +0000 http://sportwitness.co.uk/?p=448339 Girona manager Míchel is good enough to replace Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, even if he still needs time to develop as a coach. That’s according to Girona’s sporting director Quique Cárcel, who has backed the manager for a bright future as he leads the Spanish side to unprecedented heights this season. Girona currently sit

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Girona manager Míchel is good enough to replace Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, even if he still needs time to develop as a coach.

That’s according to Girona’s sporting director Quique Cárcel, who has backed the manager for a bright future as he leads the Spanish side to unprecedented heights this season.

Girona currently sit top of La Liga after 13 games of the season, with 11 wins one draw and jus one defeat putting them two points clear of Real Madrid and four ahead of Barcelona.

They’ve undoubtedly been the surprise package of European football so far, with a series of impressive performances seeing them establish themselves as title contenders.

There is already talk in Spain about a potential repeat of Leicester’s famous Premier League win in 2016, with Girona having finished tenth and 39 points behind champions Barcelona last season.

The man leading them to these new heights is manager Míchel, a relatively unknown 48-year-old Spanish manager who has previously managed the likes of Rayo Vallecano and Huesca.

He’s quickly establishing himself as a name to keep an eye on, with a claim from one of his players this week that he is in regular contact with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola via the club’s connections as part of the City Football Group.

It appears he’s been using that connection to his advantage and his boss believes there could be a pathway to the Etihad at some point, if he continues as he is.

“(He) has the talent to lead a big club like Manchester City (but) still needs time to get there to this type of benches,” Mundo Deportivo report Cárcel saying.

“City plays football that Míchel, with a smaller club, is being able to do. Although for him to train them, a lot of coordination has to happen, like Pep (Guardiola) making the decision to leave.

“(He’s) happy in the team, with a contract and with the desire to continue making the project great. The pressures in Girona are different from those he may have on a bigger bench.”

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“Unai is very important” – Player on decision to join Aston Villa, and club being ‘serious’ http://sportwitness.co.uk/aston-villa-areserious-player-decision-join-villans-adaptation-birmingham/ http://sportwitness.co.uk/aston-villa-areserious-player-decision-join-villans-adaptation-birmingham/#respond Sat, 18 Nov 2023 09:16:52 +0000 http://sportwitness.co.uk/?p=448301 Spain international Pau Torres has told Marca that he’s pleased to have joined Aston Villa in the summer window. The defender spent more than two decades at Villarreal before leaving them for the Villans, and the move saw him reunite with Unai Emery at Villa Park. He has a goal and an assist to his

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Spain international Pau Torres has told Marca that he’s pleased to have joined Aston Villa in the summer window.

The defender spent more than two decades at Villarreal before leaving them for the Villans, and the move saw him reunite with Unai Emery at Villa Park.

He has a goal and an assist to his name from 16 appearances, and that includes 11 league starts this season. Torres’ form for Aston Villa seems to have played a part in helping him make his first appearance for Spain this year, against Cyprus.

After expressing his joy at getting minutes with La Roja, the newspaper asked the 26-year-old about his decision to leave the La Liga side. When responding, he explained why Aston Villa were the right fit for him.

“Villarreal is my home, but I saw that something had to be done, that I had to go out, look elsewhere and the ideal place was the Premier League, and everything is going great,” he said.

“I have all the confidence of Unai, the coach who got the best of me long ago, the team is close to the top four, it is not by chance that the team is up there. Aston Villa are serious. It’s a reflection of good work.”

The centre-back has insisted the former Arsenal manager was one of the reasons why he picked the English club.

“Of course, of course. Unai is very important in every way. He brought out the best in me and understands me perfectly,” Torres explained.

Aston Villa are currently fifth in the table, trailing fourth placed Tottenham Hotspur by a point and three points behind league leaders Manchester City.

“The days go by and we are showing that it is not a flash in the pan, that there is important work behind it and that for the moment allows us to be at the top,” he added.

The Spaniard moved away from his country for the first time in his career and has stated the adaptation to his life in Birmingham hasn’t been easy so far.

“Adaptation is always difficult, it’s difficult. I left home, from Villarreal to another country, another competition, but I have had all the trust of the club, Unai and my teammates,” he added.

“We Latinos move together. There are Dibu [Emiliano Martínez], Diego Carlos, Álex Moreno, Douglas, Buendía, Durán… We get along very well, but above all, families get together when we are far away and handle the absences better. We are adapted and enjoying English football.”

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Club hold ‘first polls’ with Manchester City over player – ‘Obliged’ to find transfer agreement but differences big http://sportwitness.co.uk/club-hold-first-polls-manchester-city-player-obliged-find-transfer-agreement-differences-big/ http://sportwitness.co.uk/club-hold-first-polls-manchester-city-player-obliged-find-transfer-agreement-differences-big/#respond Fri, 17 Nov 2023 18:16:25 +0000 http://sportwitness.co.uk/?p=448238 Barcelona have held the ‘first polls’ with Manchester City over a permanent deal for Joao Cancelo, but the two clubs face extensive talks thanks to their respective positions. That’s according to Sport, who say Barcelona are ‘going to have a difficult time’ trying to get the Portuguese star on a permanent basis. The newspaper explains

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Barcelona have held the ‘first polls’ with Manchester City over a permanent deal for Joao Cancelo, but the two clubs face extensive talks thanks to their respective positions.

That’s according to Sport, who say Barcelona are ‘going to have a difficult time’ trying to get the Portuguese star on a permanent basis.

The newspaper explains that the first polls with Manchester City have taught the Catalans that their English counterparts are not willing to sanction another loan and want €50m for the player.

They ‘aspire to a good sale’, although early signs are that they would be willing to lower the price in order to achieve it.

Cancelo’s arrival at Camp Nou this summer was not easy because City were offering him around and several teams were interested but the footballer’s determination to play for Barcelona, and willingness to lower his salary, sent him there instead.

Barcelona had been ‘betting on the continuity’ of his loa for one more season and on paper Manchester City could accept that as he has a contract until 2027 but they want to sell as Cancelo is not a part of their plans.

Only a loan with a mandatory purchase option worth €35m would be considered but Barcelona can’t afford that, particularly as they’d have to assume Cancelo’s salary in full as well.

The player’s comfort in Barcelona and determination to continue ‘can be decisive’ in the negotiations but Barcelona already expect them to be tough.

If Cancelo remains firms, then they and Manchester City are ‘obliged to reach an agreement’ but at what figure remains to be seen.

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Manager needs to ‘do magic’ to get West Ham man – Transfer idea remains after summer effort http://sportwitness.co.uk/manager-needs-magic-get-west-ham-man-transfer-idea-remains-summer-effort/ http://sportwitness.co.uk/manager-needs-magic-get-west-ham-man-transfer-idea-remains-summer-effort/#respond Fri, 17 Nov 2023 17:17:37 +0000 http://sportwitness.co.uk/?p=448226 Sevilla director of football Victor Orta will have to ‘do magic’ to get Pablo Fornals from West Ham United as he continues to eye a move for the midfielder. That’s according to Estadio Deportivo, who say the Spanish side will look at the West Ham man again in January after trying to sign him in

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Sevilla director of football Victor Orta will have to ‘do magic’ to get Pablo Fornals from West Ham United as he continues to eye a move for the midfielder.

That’s according to Estadio Deportivo, who say the Spanish side will look at the West Ham man again in January after trying to sign him in the summer.

Estadio explain that Sevilla will again look at what the market offers them in the January transfer window as they look to strengthen their squad and turn things around.

With money tight, they need to look for potential bargains and Fornals falls into that category as his current West Ham deal expires next summer.

The belief is that there will be ‘competition’ for his signature but the plan is to revive their interest nonetheless, having targeted a move for the player in the summer as he was entering the final year of his deal.

That deal never happened, but he remains a player with a profile that manager Diego Alonso needs and would be a valuable addition to the group. In order to get him, though, Orta would need to ‘do magic’ to try and get ahead of the competition.

Who that competition is isn’t mentioned but it apparently exists, and it seems there may be something of a developing race for the West Ham man.

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Arsenal ‘closely monitoring’ player who is ‘ahead of his time’ – Liked him ‘for a long time’ http://sportwitness.co.uk/arsenal-closely-monitoring-player-ahead-time-liked-long-time/ http://sportwitness.co.uk/arsenal-closely-monitoring-player-ahead-time-liked-long-time/#respond Fri, 17 Nov 2023 16:08:47 +0000 http://sportwitness.co.uk/?p=448198 Arsenal are interested in Valencia youngster Yarek Gariorowksi and have been trailing him for some time, with Brexit curtailing a previous plan to move for him. That’s according to AS, who say the youngster is ‘ahead of his time’ and his performances on the pitch have earned him the attention of Arsenal. The newspaper explains

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Arsenal are interested in Valencia youngster Yarek Gariorowksi and have been trailing him for some time, with Brexit curtailing a previous plan to move for him.

That’s according to AS, who say the youngster is ‘ahead of his time’ and his performances on the pitch have earned him the attention of Arsenal.

The newspaper explains that the young defender has been earning rave reviews and did again this week when he bagged a hattrick for Spain’s U19s in a win over Moldova on Wednesday.

That took him to five goals in 16 games for his country, a ‘stellar performance’ that came after he appeared in Valencia’s defeat at Real Madrid.

He’s a talent that everyone is keeping an eye on, particularly in Europe, where scouts have had him on their list ‘for a long time’, specifically Arsenal.

They’ve been watching him for a while as he’s a kid ahead of his time, regularly playing in age groups beyond his years and ‘burning stages’ in the Valencia Academy.

Red Bull Salzburg already wanted to sign him in the past while it is a rare day when a scout from Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus or Borussia Dortmund isn’t in attendance keeping an eye on him.

Arsenal are always among them, and they would have signed him ‘a long time ago’ if it had not been for the ‘bureaucratic impediments of Brexit.’

AS explain that English clubs cannot sign players under 18-years-old since Brexit, nor can they sign more than three players per season under the age of 21. Yarek has been 18 since January and Arsenal are ‘closely monitoring his arrival in the elite’ with Valencia.

The youngster has a contract with Valencia until 2025 and the Spanish club have an option to extend that by another two years if they comply with a series of federative, sporting and economic requirements. His release clause, at this point in his development, is worth €20m.

Whether Arsenal are ready to pay that for him, negotiate a lower fee or simply wait isn’t mentioned but their interest is there nonetheless and has been for some time.

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‘Essential’ – Wolves player becoming ‘profitable’ in unexpected way after leaving old club through ‘back door’ http://sportwitness.co.uk/essential-wolves-player-becoming-profitable-unexpected-way-leaving-old-club-back-door/ http://sportwitness.co.uk/essential-wolves-player-becoming-profitable-unexpected-way-leaving-old-club-back-door/#respond Fri, 17 Nov 2023 14:40:48 +0000 http://sportwitness.co.uk/?p=448185 When Wolverhampton Wanderers decided to throw €50m at Atlético Madrid for Matheus Cunha, a few eyebrows were raised. After all, the Brazilian had never managed to hit the ground running in Spain, and certainly hadn’t amazed everyone during his initial loan at the Molineux, but the club decided to pull the trigger regardless. They clearly

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When Wolverhampton Wanderers decided to throw €50m at Atlético Madrid for Matheus Cunha, a few eyebrows were raised.

After all, the Brazilian had never managed to hit the ground running in Spain, and certainly hadn’t amazed everyone during his initial loan at the Molineux, but the club decided to pull the trigger regardless.

They clearly saw something in the 24-year-old, and Estadio Deportivo have an article on his rise at Wolves and how he is now becoming ‘profitable’ for them without finding the back of the net regularly.

He has scored a total of four goals in 33 appearances for the Premier League club, but it’s through his dribbling that he has caused chaos against his opposition.

It’s pointed out that ‘it is rare that an attacking move by the club does not go through him’, and is one of the most complete dribblers in the Premier League, tied with the likes of Jérémy Doku and Eberechi Eze for the number of successfully completed dribbles.

His assists have also made him a big part of the team, and his defensive contribution cannot be overlooked, which is why everything he offers makes him ‘essential’.

After leaving Atlético Madrid ‘through the back door’, he has now found himself at Wolves, who will be glad to have paid the €50m.

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Club could ‘take advantage of’ Manchester City dressing room tension – Guardiola comments cause a stir http://sportwitness.co.uk/club-take-advantage-manchester-city-dressing-room-tension-guardiola-comments-cause-stir/ http://sportwitness.co.uk/club-take-advantage-manchester-city-dressing-room-tension-guardiola-comments-cause-stir/#respond Fri, 17 Nov 2023 11:16:40 +0000 http://sportwitness.co.uk/?p=448119 Tension behind the scenes between Pep Guardiola and Erling Haaland could open the door for Real Madrid to sign the Manchester City superstar. That’s according to journalist Eduardo Inda, relayed by Bernabeu Digital, who has revealed information from his sources regarding a possible disagreement at the Etihad. They explain that Madrid continue to look at

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Tension behind the scenes between Pep Guardiola and Erling Haaland could open the door for Real Madrid to sign the Manchester City superstar.

That’s according to journalist Eduardo Inda, relayed by Bernabeu Digital, who has revealed information from his sources regarding a possible disagreement at the Etihad.

They explain that Madrid continue to look at forward options for their squad and, other than Kylian Mbappe, the other big standout name is that of Haaland.

He is currently the best striker on the planet and that’s not gone unnoticed by anyone, particularly the power brokers at Real Madrid.

Signing the Norwegian has always looked difficult because the play is ‘very comfortable’ at Manchester City where he is winning titles and the undisputed star.

However, according to Inda, the garden is not that rosy and there is actually a disagreement bubbling away between Haaland and Pep Guardiola.

“They tell me from the player’s entourage that there has been a certain disagreement with Guardiola since before the Ballon d’Or gala,” he claimed.

“Pep grandly praised Messi, saying that his worst season ‘Leo coincided with the best of Haaland.’

“(He) praised both of them, but he put in that phrase and Haaland was not amused. There is a certain distance from the coach. The relationship is not in a good moment. What you have to say is that the Ballon d’Or has to go to your star and not Leo Messi.”

That ‘tension’ could be something for Real Madrid to ‘take advantage of’ to bring their position and Haaland’s closer, at least according to Bernabeu Digital’s understanding. Whether that’s the case in reality, though, is another matter.

First and foremost, we have to admit that Inda is not the best source for this kind of thing and something of a wild rumour merchant, so you have to take his claims with an enormous barrel of salt first.

Then there’s the fact it’s being covered by a Real Madrid fan website, who are naturally going to put a positive spin on it from their own club’s perspective.

Both of those things make these claims easily dismissible but any more comments from the Manchester City coach, or little discussions with Haaland on the pitch, and you should expect more to be said in future.

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Brighton star’s ‘absolute priority’ made clear – ‘Regained his spark’ under De Zerbi, now looking ahead http://sportwitness.co.uk/brighton-stars-absolute-priority-made-clear-regained-spark-de-zerbi-now-looking-ahead/ http://sportwitness.co.uk/brighton-stars-absolute-priority-made-clear-regained-spark-de-zerbi-now-looking-ahead/#respond Fri, 17 Nov 2023 11:16:01 +0000 http://sportwitness.co.uk/?p=448109 Ansu Fati is prioritising a return to Barcelona next summer, once his loan deal with Brighton and Hove Albion comes to an end. That’s according to Sport, who say the forward’s ‘absolute priority’ is to return to the Camp Nou after starring for the Seagulls on loan. The newspaper explains that Fati sees this year

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Ansu Fati is prioritising a return to Barcelona next summer, once his loan deal with Brighton and Hove Albion comes to an end.

That’s according to Sport, who say the forward’s ‘absolute priority’ is to return to the Camp Nou after starring for the Seagulls on loan.

The newspaper explains that Fati sees this year in England as one in which he can ‘recover sensations’ to come back stronger and compete for a place in Barcelona’s first team.

He believes he has a chance given Barcelona’s offensive players are struggling this season and the fact that he has ‘regained his spark’ under Roberto De Zerbi.

That’s helped to not only make an impact at Brighton, where he has four goals and one assist to date, but also prove to Barcelona that he still has something to offer.

The hope is that he can be a ‘fundamental player’ for Brighton throughout the campaign and finish the season strongly, with him and his entourage feeling he is better that the current left-wingers in Barcelona’s squad and worthy of a place.

That’s shown in the numbers as in November alone he had scored more goals than all of Barcelona’s forwards before Robert Lewandowski got a double against Alavés.

Fati’s idea is to reach his peak at the end of the season and have a shot of being in Spain’s squad for the Euros before then returning to Barcelona with a point to prove.

At the moment they’re only interested in selling and wouldn’t mind a sale of €30m but Fati wants another shot and believes his time at Brighton so far means he is deserving of it.

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‘Bombshell’ – Wolves player looking for ‘way out’ in January, welcomes move to specific league http://sportwitness.co.uk/bombshell-wolves-player-looking-way-january-welcomes-move-specific-league/ http://sportwitness.co.uk/bombshell-wolves-player-looking-way-january-welcomes-move-specific-league/#respond Fri, 17 Nov 2023 09:16:27 +0000 http://sportwitness.co.uk/?p=448063 Villarreal have set their sights on signing Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Gonçalo Guedes in the winter market, according to Radio Marca, relayed by Estadio Deportivo. The winger moved to Wolves in 2022 and after struggling in the first few months, he joined Benfica on loan in January, before his temporary stay there was extended in the last

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Villarreal have set their sights on signing Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Gonçalo Guedes in the winter market, according to Radio Marca, relayed by Estadio Deportivo.

The winger moved to Wolves in 2022 and after struggling in the first few months, he joined Benfica on loan in January, before his temporary stay there was extended in the last window.

Villarreal have won three league games and have parted ways with two managers this season. They appointed Marcelino García Toral as their new coach earlier this week.

The manager needs reinforcements in January and his new side are preparing a ‘bombshell’, to sign the Wolves owned player in the winter market.

At Benfica, the Portugal international has been restricted to 159 minutes of action from seven games this season, largely due to his recovery from a knee injury. The 26-year-old ‘looks for a way out’ and the La Liga side are ready to open their door for him.

It’s claimed the Yellow Submarine intend to take the Wolves man on loan and also take care of his wages. Marcelino knows Guedes well as he managed him when they were at Valencia.

The new coach has given his approval to sign the attacker and the latter would welcome a move back to La Liga.

The report doesn’t mention Wolves’ stance on the possibility of ending Guedes’ stay at Benfica and then sending him on loan to Villarreal.

Reports this week in Portugal have insisted Guedes will stay for the full season.

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